finishes portfolio
how I submitted my first quilt pattern design to a magazine.
Posted on May 30, 2017
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finishes
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” — Mary Oliver, The Summer Day
Summer. I wait for it all year long. I adore it so much that I awake early to watch its sunrise and will get out of bed in the middle of the night to see its perseids. I live it so thoroughly that two months can go by and I won’t even notice that time is marching forward. I’m in Summer-Mom mode. I’m zen, baby! I’m in the summer-moment! But as I purchased the kids’ school supplies yesterday, the realization sank in that we will be back to the routine of school and sports before we know it.
Which, then reminded me, that I need to fill you in on some of the things that have been going on around here. . . Because, while I haven’t been in this space documenting my happenings, things have been happening, nonetheless!
The first bit of news is that I am now the president of the Long Island Modern Quilt Guild. We’re looking to grow the guild and to join as an official chapter of the National MQG. We’re moving to a new location, meeting on a new day of the week, we have a new logo, and have hosted some charity events and fundraisers. It’s been exciting — and a lot of work! One of the fundraisers that we will be holding this week, is a raffle for mini-quilts that were made by our board members. The feather (above) is my contribution.
This mini quilt measures approx. 12″ x 20″ and was entirely improv-pieced based on a feather from the Painted Dreamcatcher pattern by Sarah Elizabeth of {no} hats in the house. Her pattern is paper pieced, which is not really my jam. So I improvised and came up with this.
All of the board members made their minis from the same group of fabrics so that when they hang together, they will look like a cohesive collection. I think it’s going to be great, and fingers crossed, it will be a successful fundraiser for the guild!
Other than the feather, I’ve been continuing to plug away at Lincoln, as well as working on some other charity projects, like this and this. I’ll also be participating in the Cloud 9 New Block Blog Hop, so look for that post on Monday, September 12th. And be sure to check out all of the amazing blocks created by all of the participants in this event! The fabric is seriously gorgeous, so I think it’s going to be an exceptional hop!
Hope you are having an amazing summer. What have you been up to? What are you doing to savor these last days of summery goodness? I’d love to hear!
By the hair of my chinny chin chin, I submitted an entry to the Modern Quilt Guild’s Riley Blake Fabric Challenge. If you’re not familiar, MQG provided a 3/4 yard cut of Riley Blake’s Sashing Stash fabric and we had to make something quilted using that print mixed with Riley Blake solids. I chose to work with the HST sashing print as well as the checkerboard pattern, which I incorporated into my binding.
Happy Panic is the ultimate quilt resulting from one “happy accident” after another. My initial design for the quilt would have taken me far past the deadline, so, while I may still make that quilt some day, I had to change my thinking if I was going to get this one done in time.
As I worked, I realized I was dangerously close to running out of white fabric. I officially ran out of white thread (yup, it’s actually quilted with cream–and it totally works!!). At one point, I was afraid that the spool of cream would run out, too, so I added some quilting in blue, to save the cream if I needed it at a later point! I decided to use the checkered print from the Sashing Stash collection as my binding — but guess what? There was not enough of that either! So again, I added some blue to pick up the blue in the quilting and get the job done.
In the end, I am happy with the result! But the process was not without anxiety. Hence the name, Happy Panic!
I must admit I was hesitant to participate, but I really feel like working within the parameters of the challenge forced me to come up with solutions I would otherwise not have settled for. And in the end, I think it made the quilt more interesting!
So now, tell me: did you submit something for the challenge? I’d love to hear about your process and how you thought about using the prints in the collection if you did!
I couldn’t resist making another Market Street Handbag by Kenzie Mac & Co. , this one for my mom. Originally I had intended to use some toiles, stripes and florals for her version, but I changed my mind when I came across Alison Glass‘s Ex Libris at my LQS.
Having made one of these bags before, I was able to concentrate on the finer details this time. I pieced together a panel of Art Theory between two strips of Botany Chambray. I quilted the entire bag in a diamond pattern using a thick gold variegated thread. And I was able to focus on the construction issues, too. As you can see above, my flat bottom bag is balancing on my deck’s handrail. . . something I have to admit. . . you couldn’t do with the last bag I made!
For the lining, I used Robert Kaufman’s Chambray and another Alison Glass print (Historical Fiction in Gold) for the pocket.
I gave my mom the bag today for her birthday and she was thrilled with it! At first she was eyeing the original bag I’d made, but when she saw how carefully this one was constructed and how much the rainbow of colors popped against the neutral background fabrics, she was in love. I have to say, I really love it, too!
Linking up with Needle and Thread Thursday, Finish It Up Friday, and TGIFF. Have an awesome weekend!
